Jimmy Connors asserts that World No. 1 Jannik Sinner’s ban is a huge blow for tennis
The legendary Jimmy Connors believes that tennis is a lot better with its top-ranked player Jannik Sinner in it.
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Jannik Sinner and Jimmy Connors (via X)
Eight-time Grand Slam winner Jimmy Connors has weighed in on Jannik Sinner‘s three-month suspension for his doping case. Speaking on an episode of his Advantage Connors podcast, the American asserted that Sinner’s ban is a blow for tennis and suggested that it smears the World No. 1’s amazing achievements.
Connors emphasized that tennis is a lot better with Sinner in it. He added that for Sinner to be away from the game and not playing at a top level and not creating the interest that he does, is not good for the game.
Tennis needs something to take it to another level up and push it forward for the future generations and the young kids coming in that, you know, that look up to these kids, not to knock it down a peg… I don’t think tennis at that level could survive that to hit a top player.
Jimmy Connors said
Last year in March, Jannik Sinner tested positive twice for clostebol, a banned substance. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) in August exonerated Sinner, determining that he bore “no fault or negligence” as the substance entered his body inadvertently.
An independent tribunal accepted Jannik Sinner’s explanation that the substance had entered his body when receiving a massage from his former physiotherapist, who had used a spray containing the steroid to treat a cut on his finger.
In September, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) challenging the verdict, seeking to impose a ban of between one and two years on the Italian.
Jannik Sinner will serve his suspension from February 9 to May 4
The WADA appeal was scheduled for a hearing in April 16-17, but the body revealed last week that it had settled an agreement with Sinner’s representatives to serve a suspension from February 9 to May 4. WADA accepted Sinner’s explanation, and bearing responsibility for the negligence of his entourage, it deemed a three-month period as appropriate.
Jannik Sinner started off his 2025 season by defending his Australian Open title. He defeated World No. 2 Alexander Zverev in the finals in straight sets to clinch his third Grand Slam title.
He was set to play in the Rotterdam Open as well, where he reigned champion last year, but withdrew this year, citing the need to rest after a long Australian Open campaign. He was in Doha gearing up for the Qatar Open when the suspension was announced.
During his suspension, Sinner will miss Masters 1000 tournaments in Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlos, and Madrid. The next tournament that he will be eligible to play in would be the Italian Open, which takes place from May 7.
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Lakshya Chopra
(2652 Articles Published)